Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had drawn quite a crowd with their little scene. The Gryffindors and most of the rest of the school were cheering for Potter, the Slytherins for Malfoy. By the time Hermione and Ron arrived, the hallway was so crowded that they could barely see, so he lifted her up. A particularly blocky sixth year was attempting, and failing, to stop the fighting and a group of Hufflepuffs had started a betting pool.
"I honestly can't decide who I'd rather see lose." muttered Ron to Hermione.
"Neither of them deserve to win at any rate." she whispered back. A girl in their year called Alison Prewer glanced at them, scowling. "She likes Harry." Hermione informed Ron when he furrowed his brow at the girl's reaction.
"How do you find out these things?" he asked incredulously. Hermione shrugged.
"'Scuse me, prefect coming through, scuse me!" called Ron's older brother Percy, pushing through the crowds. He spotted them. "Ah, there you are, Ron, I was wondering if you fancied me showing you round the castle? Not now of course, it's far too busy with this fighting nonsense going about. Once it's all sorted, I mean. What do you think?" he asked eagerly.
"Um, I'm kind of busy." Ron mumbled, shifting awkwardly from side to side.
"Perfectly all right Ronald. Now if you will excuse me I must get professor Dumbledore at once."
'I must get Professor Dumbledore at once!' Ron said, imitating his brother once the older boy was out of earshot. "Uh, he's so full of himself!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly Ronald, he wasn't too bad. Would you prefer it if Snape had come to yell at you for not finishing your homework?" asked Hermione raising an eyebrow.
Ron scowled. "Fine, fine! I'll do it tonight alright?"
"Peachy." Hermione replied dryly. They were interrupted abruptly when a punch from Malfoy saw Potter fly back into the crowds. Both boys looked quite a sight with their bleeding noses and nasty gashes. A Hufflepuff girl squealed as Potter landed at her feet. He stood up again, though he was limping this time, Ron noticed. He glared at Malfoy and looked like he was about to draw his wand when professor McGonagall came marching in, Percy trailing behind her. She looked like she was about to explode.
"HOW DARE YOU! YOU BOTH SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! JUST WAIT TILL PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE HEARS ABOUT THIS!" McGonnagal roared. "I'M GOING TO WRITE TO BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS! THE SHAME OF IT!" she thundered. Ron and Hermione then decided to leave for the sake of their ears.
The next morning the school was abuzz with the news of the fight the night before. Rumors had spread like forest fire, and every time they were passed around the stories seemed to get crazier and crazier. One boy was heard telling anyone who would listen how he had seen firsthand Malfoy and Potter fight each other atop Hungarian Horntails and that they had both been suspended for a month. Hermione and Ron knew for a fact that neither of them were suspended, because Ron had overheard McGonagall telling another professor that they had lost twenty-five points apiece and were serving detention together for the next seven weeks.
"Honestly, how much can people make up just for something to talk about?" Hermione complained as she helped herself to a scone.
"Agreed." Ron replied. Everywhere they turned, all people were talking about was the fight...that is, until one of the troublemakers came in and everyone went quiet. There was a lot of pointing fingers and whispering, and then the loud chattering between students started up again.
"Git." Ron muttered under his breath. The irritated-looking Harry Potter stood at the Great Hall's wooden doors for a moment before turning and exiting again.
"Flying now right?" Ron asked cheerfully, trying to take the attention away from the less-than-happy subject. Glancing at her timetable Hermione nodded.
"Yep." she confirmed.
"That should be fun." Ron commented. Hermione sighed, resigned."Maybe for you." She muttered.